UFC 169: Live Coverage

Breitbart Sports reports from two rows from the Octagon at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Here are the results from tonight’s action….

Fight 12: Renan Barao (champion) v. Uriah Faber, Bantamweights

Round 1

The California Kid appropriately enters the octagon to Dr. Dre’s “California.” The crowd clearly favors the challenger. Renan Barao, despite not losing in 32 fights, elicits boos. Faber catches and incoming quick and quickly lets loose his hands. Faber scores with a foot to the midsection that Barao grabs on the way back, forcing the California Kid to the canvass. Barao send Faber down with a huge punch. Faber looks done but emerges from a wild scrum. Barao again lands a bug punch and reigns down hammerfists. Faber doesn’t object, so the referee objects to continuing the contest. Once the fists stop, Faber protests in vain.

Renan Barao by technical knockout.

Fight 11: Jose Aldo (champion) v. Ricardo Lamas, Featherweights

Round 1

The champion introduces the challenger to the fight a minute in with solid strikes. Two minutes in and that’s the only real action. Lamas lands a kick to the Brazilan’s stomach. Aldo scores wityh a punch-kick-punch comba. Aldo misses an opportunity when Lamas slips. The challenger circles. Aldo finishes the round with a blitz abbreviated by the horn.

Aldo 10-9

Round 2

Lamas throwing kicks, landing few. Aldo scores with another punch-kick combo. Lamas and Aldo trade wild shots. Lamas lands a punch. Aldo a kick–and then another kick-punch combonation. He’s letting the low kicks fly. Lamas eats a couple of punches and then nearly slips. Lamas appears to land a kick and then finishes by missing.

Aldo 10-9

Round 3

They trade punches thirty seconds in. Aldo nails Lamas with a series of leg kicks. Lamas goes for the takedown but fails. Lamas scores with a foot to the body. Aldo in control. Aldo goes kick-punch again. Lamas scores his best kick of the nihght. They trade punches. The third round plays out more evenly than the first two but the Chicagoan has yet to solve the Aldo puzzle.

Aldo 10-9

Round 4

The Bully lifts the champion off the ground without putting him on the ground. Aldo forces Lamas against the cage. Aldo trips the challenger to the ground. He’s on top but not inflict punishment. He takes Lamas’s back and attempts a guillotine. Lamas sneaks out of the hold and onto his feet. He leans the champ against the fence and lands a couple of knees prior to round’s end.

Aldo 10-9

Round 5

Aldo pitching a shutout in this very pedestrian affair on a pedestrian card. Lamas opens up with two kicks to the body. Aldo forces Lamas against the fence and then onto the mat. Again, the champ fails to capitalize from the advantaged position. “Boring” chants erupt before Lamas seizes the top position. The challenger lands sporadic elbows. He has Aldo in his worst spot of the night. A big elbow gets the attention of the champ, who concludes the fight absorbing punishment.

Overeem enters ring to Eurotrash techno–and so does Frank Mir, at least in an Alphaville ’80s way with “Forever Young.” Mir lands a clean punch. Overeem spins Mir against the fence but the American escapes. Overeem lands a knee to the solar plexus then the face that sends Mir to the ground and puts the referee on caution. He unleashes vicious knees and ground and pound before Mir regains his feet to cheers. Overeem again mounts Mir and lands strikes from the top. A bloody Mir lasts the round.

Overeem 10-8

Round 2

Overeem lands a jab; Mir, a leg kick. Overeem ragdolls Mir to the ground. Overeem pounds a knee against a penned back Mir. The former UFC champ takes Overeem down. He attempts a guillotine that Overeem slips. The Dutchman emerges on top. Mir mostly negating Overeem’s strikes from top. Now the blood flows from the side of Mir’s right eye.

Overeem 10-9

Round 3

Overeem gains top position after a weak Mir takedown attempt. He elects to stand Mir up. Again he brings Mir down. The Dutchman lands a series of vicious punches from the top. Elbows emerge. So do forearms. Mir just hanging on. Finally, Overeem stands him up for the final minute and scores a brutal shot that snaps Mir’s head back. The horn takes mercy on Mir.

Baguautinov takes the Brazilian down. The Sambo practitioner reigns down punches from a crouched position on Lineker.. Lineker attempts an ankle lock and Bagautinov counters with his own. Both scramble to their feet after failed jujitsu attempts. Lineker catches a kick and dumps the Russian on his back. Nothing doing on the ground.

Baguautinov 10-9

Round 2

After a minute getting-to-know-you process, Lineker unloads but doesn’t do any damage. Lineker catches the Dagestan native and sends him to the ground. Bagaunitov rises only to get put back on the mat. The pair square off again. The Brazilian stalking. Bagaunitov lands a couple of kicks to the body. He lands a hook and a knee before taking a hard punch. The pair finish in a fury.

Lineker 10-9

Round 2

The Russian takes down the Brazilian a minute into the ground. And throws him back there after they rise. Elbows crash down on the ribcage. The Sambo practitioner lands a shot and another takedown. He pounds his opponent against the fence. Lineker absorbed several knees to the stomach as they rise. Bagaunitov flexes and poses for the fans in the final moments.

Bagautinov 10-9

Ali Bagautinov wins by identical scores of 29-28, 29-28, 29-28

Fight 8: Jamie Varner v. Abel Trujillo, Lightweights

Round 1

The fighters exchange wild punches that leaves Varner the worse for it. Now Varner wins the exchange. Trujillo attempts takedown but gets taken down. Varner applies a neck crank that he eventually loosens. Trujillo doesn’t tap but he spends a good chunk of the round in a bad spot. A furious exchange sends the crowd wild. Varner ends round with well-placed knee. Varner 10-9

Round 2

Trujillo stalking Varner and gets nailed. Trujillo regains composure only to get nailed again. Varner lets loose against Trujillo on the cage and unleashes a series of knees. Trujillo on the verge of losing the fight until an evil right hook shuts out Varner’s lights. The crowd goes wild for the knockout and fight of the night so far.

Abel Trujillo KO victory at 2:32 of round two.

Fight 7: John Makdessi v. Alan Patrick, Lightweights

Round 1

Patrick connects with a kick and misses a takedown. The taller Patrick lands a knee to the midsection then a punch. He nearly capitalizes on a Makdessi slip. Patrick scores a quick takedown. They finish the round against the fence.

Patrick 10-9

Round 2

Patrick rushes Makdessi then slips. Makdessi’s punch lands flush. Patrick again attempts a swinging bull rush that goes nowhere only to succeed when he uses the rush to score a spectacular takedown. The fighters again square off. Makdessi bleeds from the bridge of the nose. Patrick lands a combination. Makdessi places a spinning back kick in Patrick’s midsection. Patrick puts a front kick to his opponent’s breadbasket. The crowd again shows its displeasure as neither fighter pulls the trigger.

Patrick 10-9

Round 3

Former UFC manyweight Anthony “Rumble” Johnson passes by press row. Makdessi stalks Patrick but he can’t find his groove. The fighters trade punches. Patrick clocks his opponent in the forehead. He unleashes a wild kick. Madkessi slugs Patrick. Makdessi hits a low kick then stuffs a takedown. Patrick pacing backwards, content to issue drive-by strikes. Patrick goes down claiming a kick to the groin. The ref doesn’t buy it. Makdessi controlling the action before Patrick nails him with a right and then hugs him against the cage. The referee shows mercy on the fans by separating the mutual huggers. Patrick fleeing at the end. The crowd exhibits its dislike of decisions.

Makdessi 10-9

Alan Patrick wins by scores of 29-28, 29-28, and 30-27

Fight 6: Chris Cariaso v. Danny Martinez, Flyweights

Round 1

Cariaso lands a series of head kicks. Martinez launching wild strikes. Cariaso’s right leg extremely fast as it finds Martinez’s face seemingly at will. Martinez scoops up Cariaso and dumps him on his behind against the fence. The advantageous position yields but a knee to the face to Cariaso on his way up. Martinez elevates Cariaso and slams him emphatically to the canvass to end a tale of two rounds.

Martinez 10-9

Round 2

Both fighters swing wildly to begin round hitting air as much as face. Cariaso stops a takedown. Martinez presses his weight against Cariaso against the cage as the pace slows. The fans book before the combatants square off. Martinez eats a kick. Martinez wrestles Cariaso to the mat. Cariaso rises but Martinez tries to negate the kicker’s strengths by bringing him down again. The crowd boos.

Martinez 10-9

Round 3

Cariaso charges aggressively from his corner. Martinez tees off and again slows down Cariaso against the fence. Martinez catches a kick and puts Cariaso on his back. Casiaso regains his feet. Martinez imposes his will against the fence. Cariaso’s kicks reemerge. Martinez makes a lame attempt at a flying knee before the horn makes this the sixth fight of the night to go to the judges.

Martinez 10-9

Chris Cariaso wins by scores of 29-28, 29-28, 29-28

Fight 5: Nick Catone v. Tom Watson, Middleweights

Round 1

Watson walks to the ring in a gorilla mask to Meatloaf’s “I Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That). Nick Catone counters with a less-lighthearted “Sympathy for the Devil” that riles up the Newark crowd for the Pride of Brick, New Jersey. The pair undertake a feeling out process for the first minute before Catone lands a punch and Watson a kick. The tattooed “Jersey Devil” shakes the Brit with a solid right. Watson comes back with kicks, most of which miss the mark but keep Catone at bay. Watson stuffs an attempt to bring him to the mat. Watson landing leg kicks. They trade kicks and Catone brings Watson down before the action moves against the bottom of the fence.

Catone 10-9

Round 2

Nothing much doing again for the first minute. Watson issuing slapping leg kicks. He’s not doing any damage but the Brit has clearly frustrated the American’s offensive ambitions. The crowd boos until Catone takes Watson down briefly. Catone again enjoys a takedown. And again, he’s unable to hold it or inflict any damage while on top. A Watson knee and a punch find their marks as the horn sounds.

Watson 10-9

Round 3

Watson continues with his leg assault. He stuffs a takedown. Catone claims and eyepoke but referee Herb Dean waives it off. Watson experiencing great success with kicks. Catone attempts a takedown but has no answers. Watson’s kicks starting to set up his punches. Catone finally brings Watson down but he can’t do anything and bleeds from the left forehead. He takes Watson down and takes his back with about a minute remaining.

The local crowd welcomes Iaquinta with a rousing ovation. They chant his name and he responds by sending his undefeated opponent to the canvas with strikes. He reigns down a few hammerfists and Lee recovers after taking damage. Lee gets a takedown but he quickly regrets it as the crowd favorite locks up Lee’s knee. The momentum shifts toward Lee before Iaquinta regains his stride. Iaquinta connects with an overhand right to conclude the frame.

Iaquinta, 10-9

Round 2

Lee’s left hand goes on an expeditionary mission of jabs before nailing Iaquinta with a solid head kick. Lee wins Iaquinta’s back and a sold guillotine. After remaining in Lee’s clutches for an uncomfortably long time, Iaquinta escapes to the crowd’s delight. Lee attempts a weak guillotine. He’s landing shots off his back from the bottom as his legs lock Iaqunita’s body in place. Most of the final two minutes plays out with Lee enjoying the advantage of working from behind Iaquinta as Lee’s back nevertheless remains on the canvas. Lee returns awkwardly to his corner.

Lee, 10-9

Round 3

Iaquinta nails with right hook and then measures Lee with a right and then a left to open the round. Lee misses. Lee scores quick takedown where local boy attempts to turn to his advantage. Iaquinta bloodied but nails with a kick and then scores a flash knockdown with a punch. Iaquinta dumps Lee on his back in spectacular fashion and then stuffs a takedown. Lee throws a desperate haymaker that strikes molecules of air. Iaquinta again stuffs takedown. Lee lands several punches. Iaquinta lands three punch head-body-head combonation. Action intensifies in last ten seconds.

Iaquinta 10-9

Al Iaquinta wins 29-28, 29-28, 29-27

Fight 3: Clint Hester v. Andy Enz, Middleweights

Round 1

Hester lands a low kick, then two right hooks that leave Enz down and dazed. Fighters trade solid exchanges on their feet. Enz recovers. Hester’s right again lands a bullseye. Enz ends strong with a punch-kick combination but returns to his corner with blood trickling from his nose.

Hester, 10-9

Round 2

Hester lands a takedown. The standup slows. Atlanta native unleashes a kick and then a punch to Enz after second takedown. Enz scores with a spinning kick, a few punches, then a kick. Hester expended much energy in round one and his musclebound frame seems to be sapping energy as the round comes to a close.

Hester, 10-9

Round 3

Strong action from both men, trading punches and kicks, to start the round. Hester tries sponning backfirst that misses but immediately connects with a kick. Enz unleashes a flurry of punches and kicks. Hester strikes with a booming overhand right. And then another right as Enz stalks. Enz comes back with a head kick and a punch combination. Both fighters’ strikes finding their marks. Hester lands a left hook and soon follows with a takedown. Enz escapes with a solid knee to an opponent that appeared to have a knee on the canvas. The referee doesn’t think so.

Hester, 10-9

Hester wins, 30-27, 30-27, 30-26

Fight 2: Tony Martin v. Rashid Magomedov, Lightweights

Round 1

The pair dance for a minute before Martin attempts a takedown. He ultimately brings the Dagestan native down hard. Martin works from from his opponent’s guard. Martin lands a tight kimura, which Magomedov seeks to escape with a series of somersaults. Martin transitions to an to an armbar. Through an amazinhg combination of flexibility, perseverance, and manuevering, Magomedov finally escapes. The pair remain on their feet for uneventful remainder of the round.Breitbart Sports Scoring: Martin 10-9

Round 2

Magomedov gets on top after 90 seconds of nothing and goes into ground-and-pound mode. Martin’s eye visably swells. Martin eats a kick after getting out from under Magomedov. The action slows as the round reaches its coda, and the fans reward the fighters with boos.

Breitbart Sports Scoring: Magomedov 10-9

Round 3Martin lands a quick takedown that the Russian quickly escapes. Martin clinches up against the fence. Magomedov lands a guilotine that doesn’t quite stick. The Russian lands a kick and then a punch. He goes for another guilotine. The Minnesota native pushes aginst fence and the action slows. Magomedov lands two knees to the midsection as he’s pressed against the fence. Martin content to smother. Boo birds reappear. The referee breaks the clinch and Martin emerges a bloody mess. He calls the ringside doctor to the ring, who cleans the cut, and gives his imprimatur. Martin tries to smother again. The pace slows as the horn sounds.

Breitbart Sports Scoring: Magomedov 10-9

Rashid Magomedov wins by unanimous decision, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28

Fight 1: Neil Magny v. Gasan Umalatov, Welterweights

Round 1After a feeling out process, Magny catches the Russian with a clean punch and a knee that stuns. Umalatov recovers to take the Ultimate Fighter semifinalist down. Magny rises from the canvas after landing a startling upkick. He ends the round by taking Umalatov down and then taking his back, searching for a guillotine choke that won’t be found. Breitbart Scoring: Magny 10-9

Round 2Good back-and-forth standup action starts the round. Magny employing footwork to pop the Russian and get out. Umalatov lands a looping right and forces a clinch on the fence. Magny lands shots before taking the game Russian’s back and reigns a series of alternating left-right shots down on a face-down Umalatov, who finds a friend in the horn.Breitbart Scoring: Magny 10-9

Round 3 Umalatov starts the round with a sense of urgency, launching a spinning back kick and looping right after looping right. In contrast to the first two frames, he’s controlling the action. Umalatov scores a takedown but gets spooked by his opponent’s long legs itching to trap him in an arm triangle. Magny ends the round strong.Breitbart Scoring: Umalatov 10-9